Abdulkadir Geylani waqfs in Crete

Waqfs, which are effective in the social and economic structures of societies, manifested themselves in the Islamic World and Ottoman geography. The waqfs institution, which gained the oppurtunity to spread to wider areas with the Ottomans, continued to spread together with the religious orders, especially due to the social base it contained. Abdulkadir Geylani sects strengthened its existence in the Ottoman geography since the 17th century. It started to be effective in Crete, especially as a result of the Ottoman-Venetian wars. As of 1651, villages were devoted to aforesaid sect and this situation continued in 1670 and 1705 and various villages from Rethymo Ayovasil sub-district were included in the waqfs. Thus, both the Islamization process and sect's sphere of influence in Crete were expanded.